Pinellas sheriff: Man recently released from prison shoots at St. Pete officers, another man

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A convicted felon who was recently released from prison is accused of shooting at St. Pete police officers and another man over the weekend, officials said.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri gave an update on the officer-involved shooting investigation Tuesday afternoon and released video and bodycam footage from the incident. He said 28-year-old Germaine Small shot inside a car before later shooting at a partially blind man in a random act of violence. 

Officers with the St. Pete Police Department responded to the Shady Side Food Market along 15th Avenue South around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Investigators said Small had an "interaction" with a person inside a gray Honda Accord that pulled into the market. 

That's when Small fired a handgun towards the car before the Honda took off. 

READ: Man found dead in St. Petersburg after worried friend called police

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said it is still unknown why Small shot into the car or who was inside at the time.

Police said Small had a 9 mm Glock handgun with a 50-round drum for a magazine, which was illegal for him to possess since he is a felon. Small had recently been released from prison on March 2 after serving a nine-year sentence for armed robbery.

SPPD said after Small was seen shooting at the market, he was also spotted shooting into a home in the 1600 block of 42nd Avenue South. According to authorities, a partially blind 70-year-old man lives in the home.

"He is just an innocent victim of this thing who Small tried to kill," said Sheriff Gualtieri.

According to the sheriff, Small tried to get the man's attention before he fired two rounds from his gun. The elderly man ran into his home and was not injured.

Officials said Small headed to 17th Avenue South and witnesses reported seeing him carry the gun with a towel wrapped around the drum.

Investigators said patrol officers Andre Sousa and Dale Johnson saw Small, and he ran away into a nearby lot on 40th Street South. Small fired two rounds at officers, according to officials.

Sousa returned fire and hit Small on the cheek, causing Small to bleed. Gualtieri said Sousa fired 13 rounds from his gun at Small. 

According to Gualtieri, both officers acted appropriately under the circumstances.

READ: Man hospitalized after showing up to St. Pete barber shop with gunshot wound: Police

"It goes as a credit to the training that they received by the St. Petersburg Police Department and how they handled themselves in this and taking the guy into custody," explained Gualtieri.

Small was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and released on Monday. Small was taken to the county jail, according to authorities.

According to PCSO, Small was charged with:

• Attempted murder of a law enforcement officer
• Attempted first-degree murder
• Felon in possession of a firearm

"Because of Small’s criminal record, and the fact that he was released from the Florida Department of Corrections just days before he tried to murder two people, including a police officer, with this 9 mm handgun with a 50 round drum, he faces a mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole under Florida’s prison release law," said Sheriff Gualtieri.

Investigators are still trying to find the driver, and anyone who may have been inside the Honda Accord, that Small initially fired at. They said they haven’t been able to determine if there were any potential victims there, but there were no reports of gunshot victims at nearby hospitals.

Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact Corporal Roberto Sosa at 727-582-6161.

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